Citroen not closing door on Kris Meeke despite WRC Australia errors

Citroen team principal Yves Matton was angry at the Northern Irish driver's inability to follow his instructions for the Coffs Harbour event, where he replaced Dani Sordo in the works DS3 WRC and crashed twice despite orders to maintain a consistent pace.

But Matton declined to rule Meeke out of a GB drive completely, saying he would not act on his immediate gut instinct.

"I told him clearly what I wanted him to do. I told him if he was at the finish here, he would be on the start in GB," said Matton. "Now, I don't know. I have to think about it.

"It's sure that if I take a decision too close to what happened, then the outcome will not be positive for him - and, of course, what happened when he went off again on the final day of the rally has not helped either.

"I want to think about it and speak also with Khalid [Al-Qassimi, driver of the Abu Dhabi branded Citroen]. We will see.

"I will not say he won't start in GB, I don't know."

Meeke said he would accept Citroen's decision whatever the outcome.

"It's incredible to drive one of these cars at any time, but the chance to drive one at home with the home support would be unbelievable," he said.

"I'm massively grateful for the opportunity Yves, Khalid and everybody at Citroen has given me and if that's it, then, that's it.

"I realise I have made mistakes, but I feel I have also shown I have the speed to fight at the front and there aren't many who can do that now."